Office-desk.



No. 744,888. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903. E. G. WIDMAN & A. J. MESSLER.

OFFICE DESK.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 30, 1902. NO MODEL.

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PATENTED NOV. 24 E G. WIDMAN & A. J. MESSLER.

. OFFICE DESK. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30. 1902.

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PATENT @EEECE.

EDWARD G. WIDMAN AND AUGUST J. MESSLER, OE BUFFALO, NEW YORK; SAID XVIDMAN ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES J. \VIDMAN, OF

BUFFALO, NE 7 YORK.

OFFICE DESK.

SPEGEFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,888, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed December 30, 1902. Serial No. 13 7.203. iNc model.)

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD G. WIDMAN and AUGUST J. MESSLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Office-Desk, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved construction of office-desk, the object being to provide a desk which will render the operation of writing easier and less tiresome, inasmuch as it enables the writer to occupy a thoroughly comfortable sitting position while writing and also provides suitable support for the arm and ample room beneath the desk, thereby avoiding the crowding of the legs into an uncomfortable position.

With these objects in view the invention consists, essentially, in providing the deskbody with a supplemental top portion inclined at the proper angle, said supplemental top portion, however, sliding to or from the writer and having the central forward edge cut away, so as to fit closely against the body of the writer.

The invention consists also in cutting away the central front edge of the desktop proper, thereby providing ample room beneath the desk, so that crowding of the legs is avoided.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of the desk proper with our improvement, the supplemental top portion being pushed back to its rearmost position. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the said supplemental top portion pulled out to its foremost position. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view illustrating the practical operation of the invention. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the desk-top proper. Fig.' 5 is a detail perspective view of the supplemental top portion, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the relative position of the parts of our invention.

The general construction of the desk A may be the same as those now in use. The top B, however, is cut away at the forward edge, as shown at B, said. cutout portion being, es-

sentially, in the form of a semicircle. Strips O are secured to the top B upon opposite sides of the center cut-out portion B. A guidetrack D is arranged upon the top of the desk B, adjacent to each strip 0, said strips extending from the forward edge of the top B to a point adjacent to the edge thereof, and these tracks are arranged between the strips 0 and the cut-out portion B. Sliding upon the tracks D is a supplemental to p portion E, comprising the inclined board E and the side pieces E said side pieces tapering to correspond with the strips 0 and are grooved longitudinally in their lower edges to receive the guiding-tracks D. The inclined board E is cut out at the front edge, as shown at F, said cut-out portion corresponding with the cut-out portion B of the top B. The side pieces E are provided with cleats G upon their outer sides. Said cleats slide in the grooves 0 produced in the inner or opposing sides of the strips 0 and limit the forward and backward movements of the supplemental top portion, said cleats G" being somewhat shorter than the grooves C. These cleats being in engagement with the grooves will prevent the supplemental desk portion tilting when slid forwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. The supplemental desk port-ion may also be provided with a book support or restlI, and this may be of any desirable construction. By having the supplemental desk portion inclined, as shown, the book or sheet of paper can be held at the proper angle for writing, and by sliding the supplemental top portion forwardly or rearwardly it can be adjusted to the exact position, and by having the front edge of the supplemental top portion cut away the said supplemental top portion can be brought close against the body of the writer and the side portion will provide a suitable arm rest or support, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3.

It will thus be seen that we provide a simple and efficient improvement to the ordinary office-desk capable of performing all the objects hereinbefore referred to.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. The combination with a flat-top desk, of

parallel wedge-shaped strips vertically secured to said top, the strips having parallel horizontal grooves formed in their inner faces, a supplemental desk portionhavingz an inclined top and wedge-shaped depending side pieces, and cleats secured to the side pieces and adapted to fit in the grooves.

2. The combination with a flat-top desk, of parallel wedge-shaped strips vertically secured to said top, and grooved on their adjacent faces, said grooves terminating short of each end of the strips, cleats arranged on the desk parallel to and adjacent the grooved sides of the strips, and a supplemental top portion having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined top and wedge-shaped side pieces, said side pieces being grooved along their lower edges and adapted to slide on the cleats, and cleats secured to the side pieces and adapted to lit in the grooves of the strips, said cleats being shorter than the grooves.

3. The combination with a fiat'top desk having, the marginal portion along the front edge of the top out out in the form of asemicircle, of vertical strips arranged transversely on the top on each side of the cut-out portion, an inclined supplemental top supported by and sliding horizontally between said strips and having its marginal portion cut out in the form of a semicircle, the 'front edges of the desk-top and supplemental top being in vertical alinement when the supplemental top is in its rearmost position.

EDWARD G. NVIDMAN. AUGUST J. MESSLER. Witnesses:

RALPH E. HEARD, MARTIN CLARK. 

